Apparatus for controlling the air supply of carburetors



' 1,628,506 May 10 1927 c. R. LYMAN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE AIR SUPPLY OF, CARBUHETORS Filed Sept. 1 1926 Patented May 10, 19276.

warren srarns CEALRLES R. LYMAN, OF CENTER PGINT, IGWA.

APPAEATTLS FOR GQNTROLLING: THE Am. SUPPLY Q15 OARBURETQR-S,

Application filed. September 16, 1926. Serial No. 135,893.

This invention. relates to an apparatus for automatically regulating the admission of air to a carburetor for engines and embodying a valve pivoted within the air intake passage of the carburetor and means for yieldingly holding the valve closed, the valve being adapted to be opened by engine suction against the tension exerted thereon to a degree depending upon the speed of the engine.

The invention has for one of its objects. to provide an apparatus of the character stated wherein the means for holding the valve closed may be conveniently adjusted to vary the tension under which the valve is held closed. Y

A. further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated which shall 1nclude means adapted to hold the valve opened when it is released by the tensioning means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the nature of which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arran ment of parts hereinafter fully describe claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein: 7

igure 1 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of the apparatus,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1, i

Figure 3 is an elevational view illustrating a slightmodification of the means for connecting the tensioning device to the valve,

Figure 4.- is an elevational view illustrating a further modification of the means for coninecting the tensioning device to the valve, an

Figure 5 is a detail elevational view of a modified form of the valve. Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and desig nated in the several views of the accompanying drawing, by similar reference characters.

, In the'drawmg, 1 designates a carburetor which may be of any well known or appropriate construction. 2 designates the ash and 3 the instrument board of an automobile. The parts 2 and 3 are shown merely for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the apparatus is applied when used and in connection with the carburetor of an automobile engine. While this application of the apparatus is shown and hereinafter described in detail, it is to be understood that the apparatus is adapted for use in connection with the carburetors of engines for aeroplanes, dirigible balloons, submarines and other water craft, and the like.

In accordance with my invention, a valve 4 is pivoted within the air intake passage 5 of the carburetor 1. The valve e is sup ported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis located between the center and upper edge thereof, and this end is attained by means of a shaft 6 which is fiournaled inbearings 7 carried by the carburetor 1. If desired, lubricators of any well known or appropriate construction may be provided for the bearings 7. A iever 8 is fixed to the shaft 6, and is provided with a lug 9 which is adapted to cooperate with a boss 10 carried by the carburetor 1 for the pur pose of limiting the movement of the valve 4 in one direction. When the valve t is swung as far as the parts 9 andlO will perunit. it is fully closed.

Means are provided for yieldingly holding closed the valve 4c, which is adapted to be opened by engine suction a ainst the tension exerted thereon. f The 'egree to which the valve is opened depends on the speed of the engine, and in view thereof the amount of air which enters the carburetor is automatically increased or diminished according to the speed of the engine. This means comprises a rod 11 which is slidably supported by a tube 12 fixed to the instrument board 3, a flexible member 13 which may consist of a wire, chain or card and is connected at one end to the lever 8, a rod set lower portion 17. The ofiset portion 17 is provided with relatively spaced lugs 18 and 18 which extend therefrom in the direction of the rod 11. Openings 19 and 19 are formed in the lugs 18 and 18 in axial 'alinernent with the rod 11,- for the slidable reception of the rod 14, and said rod it is provided at itsvupper end with a collar which cooperates with the lug 18" to limit the distance that this and the rod 11 may be moved in a direction away from each other. The lugs 18 and 18 prevent the rod ll from moving laterally or in a sidewise direction. The member 13 passes through an opening 21 in the dash 2 and about a pulley 22 carried by the dash. The rod ll is held against casual endwise movement by means of a leaf spring 23 which is carried by the tube 12 and bears against the rod.

The spring 15 is of the contractile type and functions to yieldingly hold the valve at closed, and the valve is opened against the tension of the spring by engine suction. The tension of the spring 15 can be increased by moving the rod 11 upwardly or away from the rod 1d, and the tension of the spring can be decreased by moving the rod ll downwardly or in the direction of the rod 1 Since the tension of the spring 15 may be varied, the amount of air admitted to the carburetor l at any ongine speed may be regulated at the will of the driver of the automobile.

'Wlien the spring 15 is rendered inetlective to tension the valve 11, the tlcniblemember 13 is relieved of all strain and the resulting slack therein permits the valve to be moved into and held in opened position by an elastic member 24 which is engaged with the lever 8 and a pin 52:) carried by the carburetor l. The power oi the elastic member 24: is less than that oi the spring 15, and due thereto the elastic member will not open the valve 4 against the tension of the spring. As shown in Figure 5, the valve may be pivoted for movement about a horizontal axis located above its upper edge, and in this figure the valve is designated :11 and the pivot or shalt thereof 6.

Instead of connecting the flexible member 13 to the pivot or shaft 6 of the valve by means of the lever B, such connection may be established by means of a sector 26 as shown in Figure 3 or a disk 27 as shown in Figure 4. The sector 26 extends from the shaft 6 in a direction to assist an elastic element 224 to open the valve l when the spring 1:; is relieved of all tension. This elastic element is engaged with pins and 25 secured to the carburetor l and sector 26, respectively. The disk 27 is overbalanced by providing it with a portion 28 of increased thickness, and said weighted portion of the disk functions to assist an elastic element 24. to open the'valve when the spring 15 is relieved of all tension. This elastic element is engaged with pins 25 and 25 secured to the carburetor l and disk 27, respectively.

Leeaaoe If desired the means for yieldingly holding the valve l closed, which means consists of the tube 12, rods 11 and 14: and associated parts, can be placed upon any suitable part of the engine and may be so placed as to eliminate the pulley 22.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it should be understood that the apparatus automatically functions to increase the sup ply of air to the carburetor as the speed of the engine increases and to diminish the supply of air to the carburetor as the speed of: the engine decreases, that the tension tending to close the valve may be easily and quickly varied at the will of the operator, and that when the valve is relieved of all such tension it is moved into and held in opened position.

It should be understood that the drawing is merely illustrative and does not pretend to give exact proportions. Furthermore, the said drawing is illustrative of a preferred construction, it being my expectation that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

ll hat is claimed is 1. In combination, a carburetor, a valve positioned within the air intake passage of the carburetor, a member connected to the valve, :1 spring connected to the member, an adj ustably mounted rod slidably supporting said member and connected to the spring, and means for holding the rod against casual movement.

E2. In combination, a carburetor, a valve positioned within the air intake passage of the carburetor, a. rod, means slidably supporting the rod, means holding the rod against casual movement, a second rod slidably associated with the first rod, a spring connecting the rods, and means connecting the second rod to the valve.

3. In combination, a carburetor, a valve positioned within the air intake passage of the carburetor, a rod provided with a laterally otl'set portion having apertured lugs, means slidably supporting the rod, means holding the rod against casual movement, a second rod slidably supported by the lugs, a spring connecting the rods, and means connecting the second rod to the valve.

4- ln combination, a carburetor, a valve positioned within the air intake passage of the carburetor, a member connected to the valve, a. spring connected to the member, and an adjustahly mounted rod slidably supporting said member and connected to the spring.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

CHARLES R. LYMAN. 

